An agreement between the Technion and UHN was signed on November 12, 2013, formally establishing the Technion – UHN International Centre for Cardiovascular Innovation (Technion – UHN ICCI). In the venture, the Technion will be represented by Professor Lior Gepstein, an expert in the study of stem cells and their therapeutic potential in the cardiovascular system, from the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine.

Dr. Barry Rubin, the Medical Director of the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre in Toronto, said that, “heart disease is the major cause of death in OEDC countries, and the second leading cause of death in Israel and Canada. This collaboration holds significant potential for the development of new cardiovascular devices and regenerative medicine therapies, innovations that will benefit not only residents of Canada and Israel, but all mankind.”

The agreement states that, “The combined efforts of scientists and doctors from the Technion, the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre are aimed at developing new medical technologies and innovative applications in areas such as medical devices and stem cell therapies – medical innovations with substantial commercial potential, and provide a cure to millions of patients worldwide.”

“I anticipate that Technion scientists will develop new devices, like miniature heart pumps, and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre team will determine if these are good treatment options for patients that we are unable to currently manage effectively,” added Dr. Rubin. “In addition, our center in Canada is a global leader in clinical studies. We will evaluate the safety and efficacy of all new devices and stem cells therapies that are developed through the Technion–UHN ICCI. The commercialization of new cardiovascular devices and regenerative medicine therapies will lead to revenue streams that will directly improve the economies of both Canada and Israel.”

In the coming weeks we will forward an initial amount of investment of the $10 million raised to date to the Technion, We expect to meet the fundraising target of $75 million (CDN) by the end of the year. Twenty-five million dollars of this amount will be directed to Technion scientists. The Technion-UHN ICCI will become the global leader in cardiovascular innovation, offering new ways to treat patients with heart disease.

Technion President Professor Peretz Lavie, said that the establishment of this new centre amalgamates the Technion’s extensive international activities. “Only by combining forces through collaboration with leading scientists and researchers from around the world, will breakthroughs be realized,” he emphasized. “I’m very pleased that a worldwide leader in regenerative medicine and the management of patients with heart disease, UHN in Canada, chose the Technion as its partner in this venture, and I’m convinced that the developments coming out of this new centre will provide a cure to millions of patients worldwide. Not without good reason was the Technion selected as a partner, for it is a global leader in biomechanical engineering and stem cell research.”

Professor Boaz Golany, Vice President for External Relations and Resource Development at the Technion, stressed that the new centre will see the emergence of the next generation of scientists and researchers who will specialize in the emerging field of stem cell research that has the potential to provide new therapies for the treatment of a range of debilitating diseases. Dr. Golany also noted that the collaboration between Technion and UHN aligns with the Canada–Israel Strategic Partnership announced by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Canadian Prime Minister Harper on January 21, 2014, which provides for “further scientific research cooperation, more business linkages, including in innovation; closer academic ties and development cooperation”, among other things.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)